Bleacher Report - Articles by Dean Eversole

Andre Smith and Marvin Lewis: Linked Together As One

Dean Eversole — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:34:52 -0400

One player hold’s in his hands the fate of a coaching staff and an organization for the next 10 years. The previous sentence may be dripping with melodrama, but the fact is offensive tackle Andre Smith now holds the future of Marvin Lewis in his gigantic hands.

Smith was the sixth overall pick this past April by the Bengals. Despite an unexplainable turn of events leading up to the draft, Cincinnati called Smith’s name on draft day. Desperate to rebuild a line that allowed 51 sacks, the Bengals put aside the character issues swirling around Smith, choosing his potential instead.

Nobody disagreed that Smith was the most talented offensive lineman in the draft, but after going MIA at the NFL combine and embarrassing himself at a personal workout, his stock dropped.

That apparently did not phase Marvin Lewis, who jumped at taking Smith. Now Lewis’ future as the Bengals coach rests squarely with Smith.

Which Smith walks into the Cincinnati training camp is the big question. If it is the one that dominated college football, while playing for Nick Saban, then the Bengals will have an All-Pro right tackle. However, if this version of Smith quickly fades or never arrives, Lewis’ coaching career at Cincinnati will be over.

All the changes and tweaks on the line, including the release of Levi Jones, will mean little if Smith crumples in the hot NFL spotlight. Quarterback Carson Palmer will again be running for his life, leaving the offense toothless.

Another season of 4-to-6 wins will bring the Lewis era to a close. Despite enjoying some early success the pressure is building and owner Mike Brown is feeling where it hurts most; the pocket book. For the first time in the history of Paul Brown Stadium, season tickets are open to the public.

Certainly the economy caused some of this grief, but never underestimate the destitute of fans chronic losing causes. Lewis’ honeymoon is now over and when the dollar talks, Mike Brown listens.

Carson Palmer: Is He the Bengals' Cornerstone?

Dean Eversole — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:47:42 -0400

Carson Palmer, the number one pick in the 2003 NFL Draft from USC, was considered a golden boy. Why not? He had a golden arm, intelligence, and grooming in a pro-style offense while quarterbacking the Trojans. He led USC to an impressive Orange Bowl victory, leaving many asking if USC was the best team in the nation. Carson Palmer had it all.

Then he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. The beaches and warmth of Southern California were replaced by the snow and sauerkraut of the heavily German heritage of Cincinnati. Gone was the winning tradition of USC and in was the Cincinnati Bengals, an organization infested with losing.

Palmer was protected his rookie season by Coach Marvin Lewis, holding clipboard as Jon Kitna led the young, but explosive Cincinnati offense. The following season Kitna was delegated to the bench and Palmer entered the picture.

From the opening act, Palmer’s skills were obvious. He tossed 18 TD in 13 games and the excitement bubbled in Cincinnati; finally the savior had arrived.

In 2005 Palmer soared to new heights, tossing 32 TD and ripping through NFL defenses. The Bengals compiled an 11-5 record and it was off to the playoffs, an unthinkable accomplishment for a downtrodden organization.

Then the nightmare returned and Bengals fans were quickly transported back in time, where losing was king.

Palmer crumpled to the turf in the playoff game against Pittsburgh with a major knee injury. Chad (previously known as Johnson) Ochocinco began his transformation into the stereotypical self indulgent NFL wide receiver. More injuries hit, the losses returned, and turmoil reared an ugly head.

Now three years after the dream season, the birth of a savior, the arrival of a genius coach in Lewis, Cincinnati sits squarely on a cross road; continue moving forward or regress to the ugly past.

Through this all, Palmer has attempted to move forward. Palmer recorded two season’s of 20 plus TD passes, before missing most of last year with an elbow injury. Even with the lost season, Palmer is considered one of the league's top passers. Yet, the Bengals are unwilling to treat him as such.

Unlike New England or Indianapolis where clearly Tom Brady and Payton Manning are in charge, Palmer has never been given the keys of the organization, a puzzling decision.

Palmer is a highly skilled, seemingly intelligent player. Palmer has never appeared in the headlines for off field actions or complaints. When given the opportunity Palmer demonstrated command of the offense utilizing the no-huddle offense to near perfection. He publicly expressed his frustration with Chad Ochocinco and the WR failure to work out with the entire team.

Palmer’s call out of Chad is another step forward for the well spoken, talented quarterback. He is evolving into the perfect candidate for being a team leader.

If Cincinnati and Marvin Lewis desire a return of 2005, Palmer must be treated as the franchise player he is. They could start by sending Ochocinco on his way.

Cincinnatti Bengals' Coach Marvin Lewis Running Out of Time

Dean Eversole — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:41:43 -0400

The Bengals roster has undergone an extreme makeover. But the coaching staff remains in status quo, providing stability to an organization under construction yet again.

Head Coach Marvin Lewis is entering his seventh season with a 46-51-1 overall record. Despite the losing record, Lewis is benefiting from Mike Brown’s well noted loyalty.

Lewis was hired in January 2003, becoming the eighth African-American head coach in NFL history. He rose to national recognition as the architecture of the 2000 Baltimore Raven defense; considered one of the best ever. Before coming to Cincinnati he a had brief stint with the Washington Redskins.

His first season in Cincinnati Lewis finished 8-8 and hopes soared. In 2005 he led the Bengals to the AFC North title with an 11-5 regular season. The Bengals lost in the wild card game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the future looked bright.

Those hopes have turned sour the last two seasons, leaving many wondering if the shine has come off Lewis.

The Bengals head coach has shown a devotion to players with off field issues. Now with time ticking on his reign at Cincinnati, Lewis will be leaning on a number of those players to turn things around in Bengal land.

A key component to the Bengals and their success is offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.

A leftover from Dick LeBeau’s forgettable coaching stint, Bratkowski was brought in from Seattle, his prior coaching experience was at the college level.

Since joining the Bengals, Bratkowski has turned the Bengals into a strong offensive unit. Prior to last season’s debacle Bratkowski’s offenses had finished in the top 10 three consecutive seasons.

Last season Bratkowski was the target of fan and media criticism. His critics pointed mainly to the current season, but the attacks were unwarranted considering the cards Bratkowski was dealt, specifically the loss of Carson Palmer.

Palmer’s numbers have not only been impressive, but historic since joining the Bengals and Bratkowski. Under the offensive coordinator, Palmer reached 100 TD passes faster than Brett Favre and fifth fastest in NFL history.

Palmer holds team records for seasonal yardage and completions, along with multiple Pro-Bowls.

Palmer isn’t the only Bengal thriving in Bratkowski’s offense. The Bengals’ wide receiver tandem of Chad Ochocinco and T.J. Houshmanzadeh were arguably the NFL’s best.

Houshmanzadeh has caught 90 or more passes the last three seasons, while Ochocinco, snatched 93 catches in 2007. Although the dynamic tandem has been broken up with Houshmanzadeh’s departure to Seattle, don’t look for Bratkowski to change.

Bratkowski will inset Laverneanus Coles and Chris Henry along with Ochocinco (if he remains a Bengal).

Bratkowski isn’t all about the passing game, he does seek a balance offense. During his tenure at Cincinnati, Bratkowski helped elevate the careers of running backs Corey Dillon and Rudi Johnson.

Over a three year span from 2004-06 Rudi Johnson galloped for 4221 yards, setting a team record for most yards in a three year span. Corey Dillon twice went over 1300 yards and became a premiere running back in the NFL.

Now Bratkowski is hoping to restart Cedric Benson’s career. The running game is critical for any offense and Bratkowski’s system is no different. Bratkowski will look for Benson to duplicate Johnson and Dillon’s output.

The man with the most daunting task is assistant /offensive line coach Paul Alexander. Alexander has spent the last 15 years with the Bengals and has enjoyed a lot of success, but after a disastrous 2008-09 campaign, Alexander is starting over.

The success of the offense is dependent on Alexander and his ability to gel together a new line, along with a new zone blocking scheme. Failure upfront could doom the entire Cincinnati season.

After spending most of this decade worrying about defense, defense, and more defense, the concerns have now switched to offense. Even so, the defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer knows his unit is a work in progress.

Zimmer, a Marvin Lewis clone, has a track record of success. He turned the Dallas Cowboys into a 3-4 set and a top 10 NFL defense, something he is looking to duplicate in Cincinnati.

One area Zimmer must improve is the pass rush. Last year the Bengals managed just 17 sacks, a number that must improve. Zimmer is looking to change the 17 sacks with an attacking 3-4 scheme, using the versatile Jumpy Gathers along with rookie Michael Johnson on the defensive line.

With his first season over, Zimmer should be growing more comfortable with the defense and they him. This comfort should equate into Zimmer fully implementing his defensive concepts with the Bengals.

The continuity of the Bengals staff is a welcome change from the NFL coaching carousel, but if Marvin Lewis and his staff stumble another year, they will be joining the carousel.

Questions for Carson Palmer: Sitting Down with the Cincinnati Bengals' QB

Dean Eversole — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:17:23 -0400

Coming out of USC, Carson Palmer was taken No. 1 in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. The early returns were positive. In 2003 Palmer led the Bengals to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance. But since that breakout season, Palmer has struggled with injuries and Cincinnati has floundered.

Now the 29-year-old Palmer appears poised for another solid year and making the Cincinnati Bengals his team.

The following are questions I would ask in an interview with Palmer:

1. What has the transition been like coming from a winning collegiate program in USC to the Bengals who have struggled for the last 15 years?

1A. Was it difficult going from the beach lifestyle of Southern California to the blue collar football crazed state of Ohio?

2. The 2005 season was a playoff season; how do you and the team return to that level?

3. You have suffered two major injuries with a knee injury and now elbow injury. Have you fully recovered from those injuries and have they altered your style of play?

4. How difficult was it to sit and watch last year as the team struggled offensively?

5. The issues with Chad Ochocinco are still lingering. Is this an issue that has divided the team?

6. You recently spoke about Ochocinco missing the recent minicamp. What brought that on?

6A. How is your relationship with Ochocinco and have you personally spoke with him?

7. People have been critical of your leadership style. Do you believe this criticism is warranted and are you seeking to become more of a vocal leader?

8. Begnals owner Mike Brown has been known as a hands-on owner. What is your relationship with Brown? Has he given you any indication that the Bengals are ready to make you the team leader and build a team around you?

9. Has it been difficult adjusting to all the new faces?

10. How’s the chemistry between you, Laveranues Coles, and Chris Henry?

11. How’s the relationship between you and Marvin Lewis? Is he an active part of the offense?

12. With the new offensive line and a healthy Carson Palmer, is offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski ready to re-open the play book? If so, how?

13. What are your personal and team goals for this season?

Cincinnati Bengals' Roster Filled with New Faces and New Names

Dean Eversole — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:01:01 -0400

Change is sweeping through the Cincinnati Bengals. With 40 new faces on the roster, name tags might be a requirement the first week of training camp.

The makeover was necessitated by consecutive losing seasons and an endless barrage of turmoil. But the change was regulated to the players as the coaching staff remains together.

Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski has returned for another season and should be playing with a full armament of weapons. After unleashing Carson Palmer on the NFL in 2005-'06, injuries, off the field issues and an ineffective offensive line forced Bratkowski to water down the offense.

Last season was a lost one for Palmer, which ended up being a blessing in disguise. Bratkowski witnessed an offensive line that allowed 51 sacks, a nightmarish number for any coordinator. The inability to protect the quarterback forced Bratkowski into maximum pass protection mood, resulting in a vanilla offense.

The decimated offensive line has been retooled. Rookie Andre Smith has moved into the right tackle slot. The sixth overall pick will not enjoy a learning curve and is expected to start week one.

Andrew Whitworth has moved from the inside and now is responsible for protecting Palmer’s blind side at right tackle. Toss in center Kyle Cook and the Bengals will have two players in Smith and Cook with zero NFL snaps and Whitworth a converted guard playing left tackle.

The change may seem extreme, but Marvin Lewis noted the goal is to put the best five players on the field. Even with minimum success, then the unit will exceed the play of last year.

Bratkowski has a wide receiver quartet capable of retuning the explosion to the Bengals offense. Free agent Laveranues Coles will team with Chad Johnson and Chris Henry as Palmer’s main targets. Second year player Jerome Simpson is capable of providing Bratkowski with numerous options creating a diverse and explosive passing game.

If the offensive line molds into an effective unit, the weapons are certainly there for Bratkowski to open the play book and return some swagger to the Bengals offense.

Defensively, the word is seasoning more than it is change. Now in their second year under defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, the defense sits ready for a solid season.

Zimmer, who promotes aggressive play, might just have the players for that approach.

Jumpy Gathers will be allowed to move around, searching for a weakness. Look for rookie defensive end Michael Johnson, a 6’7” 260-pound specimen, to become a sack specialist. The linebackers should be the strength of the team led by second year man Keith Rivers, Rookie Ray Maualuga and veteran Dhani Jones.

Zimmer also brought in veteran safety Roy Williams, who played for Zimmer in Dallas. Not known as a skilled coverage guy, Williams will add veteran leadership and running stuffing skills.

The philosophy for both the offensive and defensive units is simple; attack the opponent. It is question that will have an answer very soon.

How the Cincinnati Bengals Can Reverse Their Fortune in 2009

Dean Eversole — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:47:54 -0400

Legendary NFL commissioner Pete Rosezell’s vision of parity has become a reality, creating a sense of hope for all NFL fans, including Cincinnati Bengal fans.

Cincinnati has won 58 games in the decade for an average of six wins a season. They have won three or fewer games five times since 1990 and are coming off a two consecutive losing season.

So why are Bengal fans so excited about the upcoming season? Because this is the NFL and rags to riches stories are common place, just ask St.Louis, Baltimore, and Chicago fans among others. Like any loyal fan base, Bengals fans are holding on to hope this is their year.

After watching their franchise quarterback Carson Palmer crumple in their only playoff appearance this decade, the Bengals have made a rapid spiral downward. That season Cincinnati won 11 games, but has combined for just 19 wins the last three seasons.

Two major factors have contributed to the struggles, injuries and off-field issues.

The downward tumble continued when their two fast rising linebackers; David Pollack and Odell Thurman were lost. Pollack was forced into retirement by a neck injury, while off the field issues derailed Thurman, who was eventually released.

Almost overnight, a team many thought was nearing championship caliber transformed back into a losing franchise.

Now fast forward to the 2009-2010 season. Palmer appears 100 percent healthy and in command of the team. The linebacker core has been rebuilt, courtesy of USC in the form of Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga. The duo has been targeted not only as the future but the present core of the Bengals defense.

Offensively, Chad Johnson is still wearing the Bengal stripes, but many wonder for how long, especially with the signing of free agent Laveranues Coles.

Troubled, yet extremely talented wide receiver Chris Henry looks poised to unseat Johnson as Palmer’s number one target. If Henry can eliminate the problems of the past, his combination of freakish size 6’4” 200 lbs. and speed will create offensive mismatches.

The Bengals feel Jerome Simpson could emerge as a third option. If Simpson shows signs of becoming a legitimate second option, Johnson’s career in Cincinnati could be over.

Cedric Benson has replaced Rudy Johnson and Chris Perry at the half back position after signing with the Bengals last season. The former number one pick piled up 747 yards in 12 games for Cincinnati last year.

All of these changes could be for not if the Bengals fail to show major improvement on the offensive line. Last year the unit allowed 51 sacks and managed just 3.6 yards per rush. Any hope of a brighter season will require vast improvement from this unit and for that Bengals have turned to rookie Andre Smith.

The sixth overall pick out of Alabama this past draft, Smith was once seen as the number one offensive lineman in the draft. However, after being suspended for the Sugar Bowl, going MIA at the NFL combine, and clearly letting his physical fitness erode, there are many questions swirling around the talented offensive tackle.

That didn’t seem to turnoff Bengals’ owner Mike Brown or coach Marvin Lewis. They are confident that Smith will be the dominating player he was at Alabama and not the one who ran from the NFL combine.

It will not require an astrological miracle for Cincinnati to improve, but some things have to go right, starting with Palmer and the offensive line.

Cincinnati faces a difficult climb. They cannot afford another four game sweep at the hands of the Steelers and Ravens.

If they can protect the home turf against these teams, the schedule is dotted with very winnable games. The Bengals play the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and the Browns twice, all of which missed the playoffs last season.

There are already signs of confidence illuminating from the Bengals organization about the upcoming season.

Lewis accepted an offer to be featured on HBO and NFL Films Hard Knocks. A clear indication he believes his team is maturing and solidly on the road to success.

With a mix of veterans and young players, the Bengals will likely fall somewhere near nine wins, leaving them at worse sniffing the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals Looking for Respect

Dean Eversole — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:17:49 -0400

The Cincinnati Bengals and Marvin Lewis have the melancholy distinction of sharing the AFC North with defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4), and the team they beat in the AFC title game—the Baltimore Ravens (11-5).

As the Bengals struggle for respect and a winning season, they are caught in a division that has little mercy on the weak. The strength of the AFC North is a major problem for the Bengals, starting with their backyard rival—the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers remain the best of the best and the AFC North crown will run through Pittsburgh, common occurrence. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has another year of seasoning, another Super Bowl ring, and is one more step closer to a Hall of Fame portfolio.

Sack specialist and Super Bowl hero, James Harrison was locked up as a life long Steeler after signing a long term contract. There is little argument Pittsburgh will open the 2009-2010 season as the hunted, with the rest of the division playing the role of the hunter.

The Baltimore Ravens burst back on the scene with an 11-5 season, falling just one game short of the Super Bowl losing to Pittsburgh 26-13 in the AFC title game. The Ravens are not only the Steelers' biggest divisional threat, but they might be the biggest threat to wrestle away the AFC title.

Joe Flacco had a nearly flawless rookie season and will only improve on his numbers. Ray Lewis, after flirting with free agency, was brought back and remains the emotional spark plug on defense.

There is one shining light radiating from the North and that is the Cleveland Browns (4-12). The Bengals Ohio co-inhabitants have been stuck in a net of mediocrity since their NFL return in 1999.

The Browns lack of success and new coaching staff sets up two very winnable games for the Bengals; a welcomed break from physical wars offered by the Steelers and Ravens.

As for the Bengals, they are counting on a renewed sense of dedication and a healthy season from franchise quarterback Carson Palmer. There are numerous changes in Bengal land, including the loss of T.J. Houshmendzadeh, who signed with Seattle. That brings troubled wide receiver Chris Henry into the spotlight as Houshmendzadeh’s replacement.

The Bengals are keeping their fingers crossed that Henry has matured, betting that his off the field behavior will be as stellar as his on the field performance. The other major change is a feeling that this team finally belongs to Palmer. The former No. 1 pick was on the verge of super-stardom until injuries derailed his progress.

Now healthy, Palmer is the center of the offense and the center of the team.

Even with the changes and the seemingly new attitude, the challenges of the AFC North remain stronger than ever. In a division containing two of the NFL’s premiere teams and another intra-state rival, the task for this Bengals team looms large.

The North Division is divided into the haves, the Steelers and Ravens and the have nots, the Browns and Bengals.

Cincinnati’s playoff hopes are centered around the four games with the division’s haves. Getting swept would leave the Bengals with four losses, just one shy of the five suffered by New England last season, who missed the playoffs at 11-5 last season.

That is unlikely to be repeated, but it’s probable that anything less than 10-6 will keep a team home.

A playoff trip hinges on at least holding serve against the Steelers and Ravens, winning the games at Cincinnati. Even that seems a daunting task on paper, but as the classic sports cliché proclaims, to be the best, you have to beat the best.